Feb 6, 2018 - 05:29 am .- In his message for the upcoming Lenten season, Pope Francis urged people to renew their enthusiasm for the faith, using this season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving as an opportunity to stoke the flame of charity in their heart.

Feb 5, 2018 - 01:00 pm .- On Monday, Pope Francis and the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, met at the Vatican, discussing the situation in the Middle East, in particular the status of Jerusalem, and the need for peace and stability in the region.

Feb 4, 2018 - 04:12 am .- On Sunday Pope Francis announced that the first Friday of Lent would be a day of prayer and fasting for peace given the many ongoing conflicts throughout the world, particularly those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.

Feb 3, 2018 - 11:00 am .- After public disagreement in dueling op-eds, and frequent disagreements on Twitter, one could be forgiven for expecting the debate between New York Times columnist Ross Douthat and Villanova Professor Massimo Faggioli to be a little fiery.

Feb 2, 2018 - 08:00 am .- On Friday Pope Francis met with participants in a conference on violence committed in the name of religion, emphasizing that to use God as justification for sin is one of the worst blasphemes, and something religious leaders must work to combat.

Feb 2, 2018 - 07:48 am .- The Vatican announced Friday that Pope Francis has added two day-trips in Italy to his schedule for spring 2018, including his already-scheduled visit to the towns of Pietrelcina and San Giovanni Rotondo for the 50th anniversary of Padre Pio’s death.

Feb 1, 2018 - 03:00 pm .- A Catholic parish in Houston is encouraging sports fans to pray with handmade rosaries in the colors of their favorite professional teams. They’re encouraging the Pope to pray with one too.

Feb 1, 2018 - 10:26 am .- Pope Francis in his latest prayer video places a spotlight on the problem of corruption, saying that it is the root of most societal evils and praying that those in power would be able to resist its allure.

Feb 1, 2018 - 09:05 am .- Spending time reflecting on your own death can be a freeing experience, and one that can even help us to become better people, Pope Francis said in a homily at the Casa Santa Marta Thursday.

Jan 31, 2018 - 05:36 am .- On Wednesday, Pope Francis spoke about the importance of the Liturgy of the Word, and the resulting importance of having lectors who can proclaim the readings and the Responsorial Psalm well.

Jan 30, 2018 - 07:25 am .- After recently affirming his support for a Chilean bishop accused of covering up sexual abuse, Pope Francis has named a delegate to examine information that, the Vatican said, has since been brought forward.

Jan 30, 2018 - 07:17 am .- On Tuesday the spokesperson for the Pope, Greg Burke, sent a statement asserting that Pope Francis is well-informed on the situation of the Catholic Church in China, and that it is “regrettable” that some members of the Church have said the contrary, thereby sewing “confusion and controversy.”

Jan 29, 2018 - 03:00 pm .- A recent trip to Lithuania, taken by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s “minister for foreign affairs”, has raised expectations for the possibility of a papal trip to the Baltic states in September.

Jan 29, 2018 - 11:30 am .- In a speech to the Roman Rota Monday, Pope Francis said there is a need to develop better means of forming the consciences of the faithful in the Church, especially those preparing for marriage and family life.

Jan 28, 2018 - 10:17 am .- During a historic visit Sunday to Santa Sophia (Holy Wisdom), the national church of Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Rome, Pope Francis said that he was near to, and praying for, Ukraine, also encouraging them to not lose hope.

Jan 28, 2018 - 05:12 am .- Sunday, after leading the Angelus, Pope Francis prayed for victims of two recent attacks in Afghanistan, holding a moment of silent prayer for the more than 100 people who lost their lives, the more than 200 injured, and their families.

Jan 28, 2018 - 04:09 am .- At Mass in the Basilica of St. Mary Major Sunday, Pope Francis said that when we go through difficult times or have problems or worries, Mary is our shield, guarding our faith and protecting us from evil.

Jan 27, 2018 - 05:05 am .- Saturday Pope Francis moved two 20th-century martyrs a step closer to sainthood, including Veronica Antal, a young Romanian woman killed during an attempted rape in 1958, and Pierre Claverie, a bishop who promoted dialogue between Muslims and Christians in Algeria.